Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus)

Identification & Behavior: ~30.5 cm (12 in). The Emerald Toucanet is all green with chestnut undertail coverts and chestnut tail tip. The lower mandible is always black. The amount of yellow in the upper mandible is variable and color of throat varies according to the sub-species. It can be blue, dusky, or pale. It is similar to Chestnut-tipped Toucanet but is distinguished by having chestnut undertail coverts and yellow in upper mandible. Also similar to Blue-banded Toucanet, but it is distinguished by having a blue or black throat, no red uppertail coverts, and black and yellow bill.

Status: The Emerald Toucanet is generally rare to uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes where it ranges at elevations between 1200 – 2500 m (Cyanolaemus). Southern populations (atrogularis and dimidiatus) range at elevations between 350 – 1650 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tucancillo Esmeralda.

Sub-species: Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus cyanolaemus), Gould 1866. E Andean slope of S Ecuador to N Peru (La Libertad, Amazonas).
(A. p. atrogularis), J. H. C. F. Sturm and J. W. Sturm 1841. E Andean slope from N Peru to C Bolivia (W Santa Cruz).
(A. p. dimidiatus), Ridgway 1886. Hills and lowlands from E Peru to W Brazil (Acre) and N Bolivia (Pando).

Meaning of Name: Aulacorhynchus: Gr. Aulax=scratch, groove and rhunkhos=tip. prasinus: L. leek-green.

See more of the Family Ramphastidae